The In Or Out Book Tag

While my braincells recuperate from pounding out a book, I thought it’d be fun to do an “easy post” and snagged a tag from this blog. 😉

It’s time for me to give my stances on some common bookish pet peeves, mwaha. Let’s get started!

1. Reading the Last Page First

OUT. If I run across a spoiler, the harder I try to forget it, the worse it sticks, so I’m veeery careful to not read ahead. (Not that it’s never happened.) 😉

2. Enemies to Lovers

OUT, most of the time. I don’t generally like books with a lot of conflict or drama, and when it’s in a romantic setting it can end up leaning into some pretty disrespectful or abusive tropes sometimes. 😦 I do enjoy it when characters have a flirty, good-fun rivalry though.

3. Dream Sequences

OUT, but just because I’ve been tricked by them way too many times. 😂 I do think they have their place, especially in fantasy if they’re visions of sorts, but if it’s used to mess with readers… thumbs down.

4. Love Triangles

OUT, (unless you’re the Matched trilogy and I’ll give you a pass). It comes back again to my dislike of drama, but I also find it easily leans into leading people on, feeling possessive, or cheating tropes which are not my cup of tea.

5. Cracked Spines

IN, though I’m not sure if I could bring myself to do it. I do really enjoy it when a used book is already broken in–it just makes reading so comfy. 😉

6. Back To My Small Town

IN, and Toni Shiloh and Chautona Havig use this trope in the cutest ways.

7. Monsters Are Regular People

IN. Do we mean like the world of Monsters University or a friend is a hidden mermaid in the real world? Cause I like both. 😉

8. No Paragraph Breaks

OUT. *gags* I need these for my brain!

9. Multi-Generational Sagas

*whispers very quietly* out. They tend to rely on relationship drama too much for my tastes plus I don’t often have the attention span for long series, lol. *stares in standalone and trilogy fan*

10. Re-reading

IN, theoretically. I usually remember the plots of books too well to want to re-read them, but it can be really fun and comforting too, especially if it’s a book from my childhood.

11. Artificial Intelligence

IN, mwaha. I love almost all sci-fi tropes and the ways they can be used to explore themes of humanity, entropy, control, emotions, etc. I must write a sci-fi book someday…

12. Drop Caps

IN, they’re cute.

13. Happy Endings

IIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNN. They’re the best, followed closely by bittersweet and hopeful endings.

14. Plot Points That Only Converge At The End

IN, theoretically. I love a good, huge reveal, but a little bit of satisfaction along the way is necessary. 😉

15. Detailed Magic Systems

OUT. *hides* I’m sorry, but I do not enjoy super technical world-building.

16. Classic Fantasy Races

IN. Elves, centaurs, merfolk are literally always cool?!

17. Unreliable Narrators

Hmmmm… 50/50. I’m not sure I’ve read many books like this? (Yes, I’m aware of the irony of this answer.)

18. Evil Protagonists

OUT. Nooo, I want to be able to root for you! 😭 If we’re doing a descent into madness or redemption storyline, mayyyybeee.

19. The Chosen One

IN, mostly. This one can be really fun and creative or bland and overused, lol.

20. When The Protagonist Dies

OUT. I don’t need my heart broken!

21. Really Long Chapters

OUT. Again, I need the divisions for my brain otherwise I feel like the book is dragging. 🙃

22. French Flaps

IN. (This is when the cover of a paperback has a folded-over flap similar to a dust jacket, I believe.) Feels so fancy, probably because I’ve only seen the highest quality paperbacks with them. 😉

23. Deckled Edges

IN. (I had to Google to be sure, but this is basically untrimmed pages.) Absolutely gorgeous, gives an air of “yes, this is an old, mysterious library”, and I just really love how the texture feels. ❤

24. Signed Copies By The Author

IN. It reminds me there’s a real human who poured heart into these pages and having so many author friends makes this even more special.

25. Dog-Earing Pages

OUT. Be nice to the little page corners. 😠

26. Chapter Titles Instead Of Numbers

OUT? I actually don’t pay attention much to headings, though, unless they’re particularly artistic or part of the theme of the book.

There we are. 😉 This was so much fun to answer, and I hope you feel free to snag it and share your answers! 😉

New Year’s Resolution Book Tag

Hello, and yes, I’m absolutely using this tag as a cute excuse to talk about my TBR. 😁 Heaven made it look so fun (go check out her answers), I decided to give it a go.

An author that you’d like to read (that you’ve never read before).

I’m leaving this space free for the lovely indies I’m sure are about to publish their debuts. You can do it, and I can’t wait to read it!

A book you’d like to read.

All of them, please. 😂😂 But more specifically Cinder by Marissa Meyer is on the TBR, mostly because I got the most adorable copy at the thrift store. 😇

A classic you’d like to read.

I’d like to continue my tour through Agatha Christie books. I’m really enjoying her writing style and values so far. 😉

A book you’d like to re-read.

My prodigal copy of The Book Thief has returned home, and I’m ready to let it break my heart again. 😭 Also, it’s an inspiring masterclass in breaking every rule as a writer so I will be soaking that aspect up.

A book you’ve had for ages and want to read.

In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh. I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to experience its gorgeousness. 😍

A big book you’d like to read.

So big books and I aren’t exactly friends and if I read them it’s an accident, so I’ll leave this space open for whatever I find.

An author you’ve previously read and want to read more of.

J. Grace Pennington! She’s releasing more books in her Firmament series and I am here for it. 👏👏🤩

A book you got for Christmas and would like to read.

It was actually for a birthday, but The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen has been making eye contact with me from the shelves. 👀

A series you want to read from start to finish.

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins is one of my most concrete goals this year. I’m looking forward to hardcore judging Gale more and experiencing the little details the movies couldn’t get across. But pray for my squeamish soul. 😉

Do you set reading goals? If so, how many books do you want to read in 2023?

Yesssssss. I’m shooting for 35 books this year, but we’ll see what happens. 😁

Any other reading goals?

Just to have a lot of fun and don’t be shy to DNF if a book is just not my type. 😉

Whatever happens, I know it’s gonna be a lot of fun. 😉

(Feel free to steal this tag–I want to read your answers. 😎)

The Remarkable Blogger Tag

Thanks so much for tagging me, E.G. Bella! I love these questions.

Something Unique About Me

I have curly hair, and how curly it gets depends exactly on how I treat it on wash day. In some ways, I never know what I’m going to get, but lately I’ve got a routine down that makes it verrrrry big and I feel like a super cool sheep/Riversong/tough fictional character.

The Questions

If you could live in any type of home, anywhere in the world, where would you go and what house would you choose? (Like a treehouse in New York or something!).

Oh, wow. So I do wish to be a rather strange, homebody of an author living in the English countryside, but I’d also take a small house up in PNW since it has pretty similar weather. 😉

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Right now, it’s people using theology as an excuse to hurt other people. 👀

What would you tell the you that started your blog if you could go back to that day?

Lol, I’d tell her her posting schedule is too intense (five posts a week, really?!), but also that was pretty fun, so I think I’d just let her do what she was doing. 😉

Is there one song out there that you think everybody should listen to? 

Yessssss. The Rain Keeps Falling by Andrew Peterson is such a beautiful picture of communing with God. ❤

If there were no limits in life for a day, what would you do first and last?

Ohhh. MWAHAHAHA. I would finish all my writing projects and publish them, climb a rolling library ladder, and eat anything I wanted. 😍👏

Have you set yourself any challenges for the year?

In a way no, but also, yes? It’s a challenge that’s slowly developed into goals, but I’m challenging myself to get my mental health in hand and also be patient with myself. We’ve got a lot of years to undo and redo. 😉

How many blog posts have you written so far?

I’m at 778 published! Wowza. Here’s to even more!

Does your blog have a niche or no?

It does somewhat, but quite less than when I first started it. I’m enjoying the flexibility right now, but I am glad I have central goals in mind.

Do you have any advice for helping a blogger get out of a writer’s rut?

Allow yourself a hiatus, think about and do other things, and fill your creative tank back up. Also, I recommend having some “easy” posts on hand, whether that’s a photo dump, blog tag, or review repost, just so you can keep up a consistent schedule but give yourself a break. 😉

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If you would like to be tagged, consider yourself tagged! 😉

The Get to Know Me Tag — Writer’s Edition

Happy weekend, everyone! I thought this tag might be a fun way to end the week. 😉

This tag was originally created by Savannah at Savannah Grace Writes, and I was tagged by the wonderful E.G. Bella. You can find her post here. Thanks so much for tagging me!

Vital Stats and Appearance

Name: Kate (Willis) Hoppman (there’s also a really pretty middle name in there which I won’t share because privacy 😉 )

Nicknames: I don’t have an official nickname, but my nephews are convinced my name is actually “Cake” which cracks them up because I often make family birthday cakes.

Birthday: Springtime. 😉

Hair color and length: Brown, elbow-length because of how curly it gets, but it’s really a lot longer than that. 😉

Eye color: Also brown

Braces/piercings/tattoos: None of the above

Righty or lefty: I’m right-handed, though I’m somewhat ambidextrous.

Ethnicity: I’m a mix of all things European + Ashkenazi Jew. 😎

Firsts

First novel written: Kiera. It was a huge milestone for me, and I’m still so grateful I got to write and publish it. 💙

First novel completed: Also Kiera. I have yet to complete a second novel beyond draft one, and the self-doubt feeds off that fact rather well. 😉 😬

Award for writing: I believe I won a short story contest in the past. 🤔

First publication: My middle-grade, summery mystery The Treasure Hunt. My sister Perry helped me get it ready in time for a convention table she was running for Homeschooled Authors, and I got to see my book in person there and sell copies. 😍 One of my favorite author moments.

Conference: I’ve never been to one, but I’d love to attend the Rabbit Room conference, Hutchmoot. Finances and the bundle of anxiety that I am make going to a conference a little bit unrealistic for me right now. 😉

Query/Pitch: Nope.

Favorite

Novel (that you wrote): The one I’m writing now. 😉 Which currently truly means my fantasy WIP “Awake”, but also I’m generally in love with whatever I’m working on (unless it’s editing time). 😁🤩

Genre: I write mainly contemporary and fantasy (or variation thereupon), but I’m itching to write something sci-fi.

Author: Perry Kirkpatrick, Sarah Holman, and Kim Vogel Sawyer

Writing Music: I don’t listen to music a lot while writing because #distractiblebrain

Time to Write: Midday or middle of the night when I should be sleeping and simply cannot. 🙈

Writing Snack/Drink: Chai tea, something chocolate 😉

Movie: *draws a blank* *literally has 600* I think more people seriously need to see the wonderfulness that is Fast Color.

Writing Memory: When my rewrite of a vital scene in Kiera made my mom cry. 🥰

Childhood Book: The Shield Ring by Rosemary Sutcliffe was exceedingly formative. 👀

Currently

Reading: The second Enola Holmes book. 😎 Also, a beta-read for a friend of mine.

Writing: Erm, mostly blog posts.

Listening to: Improbable Things podcast by J. Grace Pennington. She’s a very cool human, and I love her thoughts on life, books, and writing.

Watching: Parks and Rec with my husband. 😉

Learning: Mental health management and how to live life.

Future

Want To Be Published: Yes! That’s the goal with every new project, and I hope to have more books out there to share with you.

Indie or Traditional: I’ll be staying indie for the foreseeable future, but if I got a deal with a small press, I wouldn’t be opposed. 😉

Wildest Goal: To see one of my books made into a movie. 🤩

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Thanks for reading, and if you’d like to answer these questions, consider yourself tagged! 😉

“What’s Your WIP” Tag — Meet My Fantasy Novel

It’s about that time to switch gears on projects again (now that my book-baby Kiera is successfully out in the world!), and I thought this tag would be a great way to share what’s been brewing… *evil laugh of authoriness*

THE RULES:

• Thank the person who tagged you & link to their blog.
• Link back to the creator, Katja @ Little Blossoms for Jesus, & add the tag graphic. 
• List the rules. 
• Answer the questions. 
• Feel free to add snippets!
• Tag as many or as few people as you wish & let them know they’re tagged. 
• Add a clean copy of the questions at the end of your post for the “tagged.”

Thanks for creating this tag, Katja!

Has your WIP a working title? If so, tell us! If not, have you any idea of what it might be?

Yes! I’ve chosen the final title of “Awake”. It’s a reference to an important line in the story, a subtle nod to the themes, and is honestly just a beautiful word. 😉

Have you a synopsis for your WIP? If so, give it to us! If not, can you give us a blurb on what your WIP is about?

We do not speak of blurbs at this time. (That horrific institution is something we leave for the very last minute. *glares in author*) Nevertheless, I will be brave and give you a taste of the concept…

In a world where stars tell the Maker’s plans and men study years to read them, King Harbor and Queen Marinne receive a terrible prophecy at their son’s christening. Elite palace guard Arrow is chosen to accompany the Queen and prince to a place of safety no one is even sure is real.

Chaos descends on the kingdom. Wolves and traitors roam the night, and soon even the earth itself begins to crumble.

Have you a working/mock cover for your WIP? If so, show us! If not, have you an idea in mind?

I have a slight idea in mind, but I’m doing a little more market research and head-banging brainstorming before I come up with one. 😉 I often don’t have very clear ideas for my covers until my designer sends mock-ups. 😬😭

How did you get the idea for this story?

This story idea came from me dealing with the problem of religious leaders misrepresenting God and downplaying His love and mercy for us. A bit of a sequel to some of the issues in Kiera, really. I also wanted to write a full-length novel in the fantasy genre and had a couple beautiful world-building ideas I wanted to use. 😉😎

How long do you think it will be? Is it longer or shorter than you thought it would be?

I originally plotted it for 50k words (hey failed attempt at NaNoWriMo!), but in rewrites, I’m hopeful and fairly certain it’s at least going to hit 60k. We’ll see. 😉

Who’s your favourite character so far?

My favorite character currently is Arrow. He comes the most alive to me, and his dog (or the dog that chose him, rather) is pretty amazing too.

What’s your favourite memory related to this WIP?

I have a really beautiful brown and copper notebook I first outlined and brainstormed this story in. Every time I see it, it reminds me of the excitement and anticipation of planning my sophmore novel. 🤎

Any special person(s) who helped create it?

Since I’m really only draft two, I haven’t opened it up to a lot of feedback yet, but my sister Emma and my bookish friend Mary have been so encouraging and enthusiastic. ❤️ Their excitement fuels me on to get this story done. 😉 (And I text Emma when the characters are not behaving. #theyhaveissues)

What’s your favourite scene so far (if you can tell about it without spoilers!)?

Almost all of my favorite scenes are spoilers, oops. 😎 But there’s one where Marinne and Harbor are doing some relief work (because crazy world goes to kaput), and the sweet unspoken support between them is just heart happy. 🥺🥰

Can you give us a snippet? 

Absolutely! It is draft one material, so be kind 😉

Arrow walked down the corridor to the Great Hall, the black dog following at his heels. The day had been long, and he still had dinner to eat and paint to remove from his face. Mace had a look in his eye that said there would be a long, worrisome meeting in the guard shack later.

He threw a glance at the dog. The animal had stuck with him all day, whether Arrow wanted him to or not, and he knew that somewhere in the days following their meeting the dog had decided to be his.

When he entered the Great Hall, the cook handed him water and ash to clean his face, then traded these for a bowl of stew. He swung his legs over a bench and leaned over his bowl, losing himself in the comforting food.

The dog nudged his foot, and he threw him a scrap of meat. Sooner or later, the animal would need a name. 

Is the story still what you thought it would be or has it thrown you a couple curveballs?

In some ways it has stayed very close to my original plot, but in others it has really blown my mind. One of the characters has a secret identity, another demanded an entire POV of their own, two are falling in love maybe (??), and I realized I need a kingdom map, a castle map, and a sky map. #sendhelp #allthemaps

Is there a Bible verse, poem, hymn, picture, or quote that helped shape this story?

Honestly, none so far. I did take inspiration from a scene in one of my favorite movies, though. 😉 Also, I stole how two of my male characters look from a Marvel show and a BBC show…

When and where have you done most of the writing so far?

I began writing this story in 2019 and finished draft one in 2020 (it’s been a little bit of a long road), so it’s likely that I wrote it mostly sitting on my bed, the floor, or the couch at my parent’s house.

Where do you get inspiration for this story?

I have a Pinterest board I collected a few things on very early on, but mainly it’s just letting my mind play and enjoying how much I love medieval fantasy. 😉

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

For longer projects, I’m a plotter and then let the smaller details (see above) take me by surprise. 😉

Do you have a little ritual before you start writing?

Not really. I just tend to get social media out of my system, grab a snack or drink, and get to work. Lately, I’ve been lighting a candle for the vibes. ❤️

Are you thinking of publishing this story?

Yep, that’s the plan! Indie publish sometime before next summer! 🙏😍

What things have you learned while writing this story?

Just how key worldbuilding is and how bad I am at it. 😂 Also, if I want to have a plot twist, I need to work hard to keep all you smartworms from guessing it. *disappears into brainstorm lair*

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Tell me about your WIP!

1. Has your WIP a working title? If so, tell us! If not, have you any idea of what it might be?
2. Have you a synopsis for your WIP? If so, give it to us! If not, can you give us a blurb on what your WIP is about?
3. Have you a working/mock cover for your WIP? If so, show us! If not, have you an idea in mind?
4. How did you get the idea for this story?
5. How long do you think it will be? Is it longer or shorter than you thought it would be?
6. Who’s your favourite character so far?
7. What’s your favourite memory related to this WIP?
8. Any special person(s) who helped create it?
9. What’s your favourite scene so far (if you can tell about it without spoilers!)?
10. Can you give us a snippet? 😉
11. Is the story still what you thought it would be or has it thrown you a couple curveballs?
12. Is there a Bible verse, poem, hymn, picture, or quote that helped shape this story?
13. When and where have you done most of the writing so far?
14. Where do you get inspiration for this story?
15. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
16. Do you have a little ritual before you start writing?
17. Are you thinking of publishing this story?
18. What things have you learned while writing this story?

Happy weekend and happy writing. ❤️

The Fandom Favorites Tag

Eva-Joy had the coolest blog tag idea, and yes, I am taking her up on the challenge. *mockingjay salute*

The Rules

1. Compile a list of up to ten of your favorite fandoms. Books, movies, TV shows—you name it!
2. Tell us about your favorite character in each of those fandoms, along with an explanation of why that character is your favorite. (Your reasoning can be however long or short you’d like it to be.)
3. Tag however many (or few) friends you’d like to participate.

For the purposes of world domination, I am tagging everyone who would like to participate. Mwaha.

My Answers

Marvel: Black Panther

His was the first Marvel movie I saw in theaters and the one that cemented me as a fan. I loved the rich, imaginative culture, beautiful storyline, and T’challa himself in his quiet strength. This character truly changed my life in some big ways. 🖤

Honorable mentions: Steve Rogers, Nakia, Laura Barton

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Marvel TV Shows: Fitzsimmons

Fitzsimmons (and they basically count as one person, right?) are the Most Darling Beans to ever exist. The nerd babies who grow into brilliant, brilliant team members, save the world and have 600 doses of trauma, and cause shipper hearts to swell and break… That’s them. 🥺🥺🥰 They’re also a classic grumpy/sunshine duo, so what’s not to love?

Honorable mentions: Monica Rambeau, Daniel Sousa (in AoS), Elena Rodriguez

Note: the violence level in Agents of Shield is higher than average Marvel movies. I have not watched all episodes or seasons to be able to recommend it.

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Doctor Who: Rose Tyler

Call me basic, but this character literally changed my life. Working class, similar in age to me (at least when I started watching it), not a typical body type, and loyal as all get out with some growing up to do. 💜 I will defend her on my secret Twitter account until the end of the world.

Honorable mentions: the Tenth Doctor, the Twelfth Doctor, Rory Pond

Note: the values of this show and content levels vary.

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The X-files: Mulder

I came for the quirky alien conspiracies and stayed for the character development and ship. THE SHIP, Y’ALL. If I had to choose between the two main characters, I have to go with Mulder. Just because his curiosity and hopefulness are so different from me (I’m more Scully) and I admire them. Also, he has a great sense of humor. 😂👏

Note: the content levels on this can get pretty ick, so I read about episodes and skip some. I’m also only halfway through the show.

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Pixar: Luisa

A very unexpected new favorite for me, and it’s all down to her song “Surface Pressure”. I’ve never felt so seen in my life, and I really felt and rooted for her character. 🤗

Honorable mentions: Raya, Woody

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BBC Sherlock: Molly Hooper

Usually I would be a book purist, but Molly was an entirely perfect addition to the show, and I couldn’t imagine the whole thing without her. She’s also another character who has encouraged and challenged me, similarly to how Rose has. I even wrote a fanfic epilogue for her (because she deserves it).

Note: the show is equivalent to an R-rated movie.

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Person of Interest: Joss Carter

Another “inspired Kate and is short and absolutely BOSS” character. That’s starting to sound like a good alternate title for this post. Seriously, I LOVE this show and Detective Carter is one of the main reasons why. I can’t say much more without spoilers, but yep. 👏🤩

Honorable mentions: Reese, Mr. Finch 💙

Note: this show is PG-13 equivalent, and I personally skip a handful of sexy episodes.

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Narnia: Lucy Pevensie

Both book and movie Lucy are the sweetest, bravest souls, and I love her deep faith and friendship with Aslan. 💙 We unfortunately didn’t get to see all the books in movie format, but she just gets cooler and cooler…

Honorable mentions: Edmund Pevensie, Jill Pole, King Tirian

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Little Women (2017): Beth

I’ve always felt a connection with Beth since I’m the third sister and we share some similar personality traits, so I was delighted with how they handled her story and added some character development in the BBC adaption. 💙

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The Great British Bake-Off (it counts): Dame Mary Berry

This show was my early-pandemic comfort show, and I’ve watched the two latest seasons as they’ve come out. Dame Mary Berry is literally the coolest ever, and I aspire to be her when I grow up. 😁

Honorable mentions: Luis Troyano, Nadiya Hussain, Peter from 2020

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I just went wayyy nerdier there than I usually do, lol, but it was a ton of fun. 😁😂

Are you in any of these fandoms? Share your picks in the comments! (And if you have any content questions about a show/movie, feel free to ask!)

The Liebster Award <3

I was tagged by Emma from Bookish Daughters of the King for the Liebster Award. Thanks, Emma!

I’m not going with any rules, but if you find these questions fun, feel free to pick them up and just link back to Emma. 😉

The Questions…

1. What is your favorite Bible verse and why is it special to you?

Not a specific verse, but I really love the whole book of Isaiah. Just the hopefulness and foreshadowing of Christ. ❤️

2. What is your favorite movie and why?

I have too many favorites to name right now, so I’m gonna go with a recent favorite and that’s Encanto. *vibes to music and cries over the accuracy and beauty

3. What would you consider your hidden talent?

I can weed a garden very well. 😎 I’m also decent at sewing if I understand the pattern. I’m also very good at dancing badly.

4. What book could you read over and over again?

Theoretically The Book Thief but it’s too emotionally destroying, so I’ll go with The Shield Ring. These questions are hard, y’all. 😩😂

5. What are your favorite names?

Ooo, I have many right now, but I’ve literally always loved Ainsley.

6. What’s your favorite place on earth?

Our little apartment. ❤️ It’s home.

7. If you had a TV show or book made about you, what would the title be?

I’m hoping for something like “Ordinary Girl” or “A Half-Baked Life” but I’ll probably get “Remember the Weird One Who Was Either Laughing or Crying?” or something to that effect. 😂

8. Who is your top favorite author?

Ooo, hmmm… I mostly go book by book, but I guess Perry Kirkpatrick, Toni Shiloh, and Sarah Holman count since I love everything I’ve read by them. 😉

9. Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert, all the way.

10. What’s your biggest goal in life?

To practice and radiant Christ’s joy and peace and to publish some pretty good books. 😉

11. What’s your favorite TV show?

Great British Bake-Off, hands down. 😁 All the happy vibes and inspiration.

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That was delightful fun! I think we’ve discovered that I’m pretty indecisive at picking favorites, though. 😉 😂

What would your biography be called?

Spell the Month in Books: December

Ever since I discovered Spell the Month in Books, I’ve wanted to participate, so I’m really excited to be doing this today. 😍 Let’s see how it goes. 😉

D – 12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep

Historical fiction, entirely fascinating mystery

E- Emmeline by Sarah Holman

Historical fiction, fabulous indie

C – Calico Bush by Rachel Field

Historical fiction, my childhood

E – Ember Rising by S.D. Smith

Anthropomorphic fantasy, my favorite in the series

M – The Martian by Andy Weir

Sci-fi, I have a censored copy 😉

B – Burning Rose by Hope Ann

Fantasy, mind-blowing

E – Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Fantasy, a classic

R – Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

Romance (sort of but more about coming of age), my teenage obsession

Happy rest of December! 💗💗

All About You Around the Blogosphere Tag

Kristianne Hassman made this tag look so fun, I stole it with her permission. 😂 Thanks, Kristianne!

The Rules:
1. Answer the questions below on your blog.
2. Tag at least a couple other bloggers.
3. Have them answer these questions.

Question time!

1. What’s your favorite book/book series and why?

That’s a really hard one, since I’ve read a lot and loved most of it. It’s a pretty good problem to have. 😉

I’d say right now, it’s The Mysterious Benedict Society series, especially books 1 and 3. They are just so engrossing, full of truth and whimsy together, and entirely too brilliant to boot. I was recently reminded of how good they are when I watched the Disney+ show of the first book.

2. Who is your favorite author?

Also a hard question. *rubs hands together* Sarah Holman is an old favorite in the indie world, Toni Shiloh is a new favorite (also indie, though she’ll be hybrid next year!), Ally Condie a favorite mainstream, and C.S. Lewis for nostalgia purposes. That was four, oops.

3. What is your favorite food?

I have two modes–avocado, cashews, and fruit when I’m feeling healthy or goooood, creamy, HEAVENLY mac and cheese. 🤤

4. What gives you inspiration for your books?

Honestly? Everything… My observations of my family and friends and random strangers, my own anxieties funneled into something manageable and solvable in a fictional realm, my inner wondering and wanderings, and Biblical teachings I’ve run across.

I’m also inspired by the fiction I read and the media I watch, especially if it’s an annoying TV show plotline I feel the need to fix.

5. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Somewhere UK-ish, and by that I mean foggy, rainy, perfect for growing vegetables, and with a sense of long history to it.

6. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert, to the max. Before the pandemic, I’d say I could see myself becoming more outgoing (which isn’t the same as extroversion) but the past several months have really turned me back into a Hobbit for better and worse. 😉

7. If you had a warning label, what would yours say?

“The emotions are strong with this one.”

A.k.a. a Star Wars reference warning you I am a Nerd and also explaining my emotional state. 😉

This was such a fun tag! I hope you all enjoyed reading my answers. 😉

I nominate . . .

Katja at Little Blossoms for Jesus
Jana T at Reviews from the Stacks

Liberty H. at Gone in a Dream

Feel free to answer these questions down in the comments as well!

Mystery Blogger Award Tag

I was tagged for this by Katja from Little Blossoms for Jesus. Thanks, Katja!

(And I have no idea what the “mystery” part of the name means, so maybe that itself is the mystery… :O 😉 )

1. How many notebooks do you think you own? 

Um. Big question. 😉 I have 25 (?) full ones in storage and a ton of others spread throughout my stuff like Easter eggs. 😀

2. What’s your favourite male name and your favourite female name? 

My favorite male name has always been Edward (though I love a lot of others), and one of my favorite female names is Mercy.

3. What is your passion? Your driving passion? 

Looking at God and the world He has made, seeing things to love, and setting them before others for them to love. ❤

4. Chicken burgers and fish sticks… with or without breadcrumbs? 

I’m not a huge fan of either… I like chicken nuggets? 😀

5. Any opinion on poetry, specifically classical poetry? 

I’m not a huge fan of poetry, but I do have a few favorites. One favorite off the top of my head is “The Children’s Hour” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 😉

Thanks for the questions! Those were fun. 😉

If anyone is interested in picking up this tag (or even just answering the questions in the comments), here are my questions for you…

1. What is one song that makes you happy every time it comes on?
2. What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever baked?
3. What is one book you’ll never forget?
4. Orange Julius or lemonade?
5. What is your favorite graphic novel or comic book?

Thanks for reading and have a lovely weekend!